Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-30

for job-how irretrievably he would
compromise himselfl The stint once
SGT in type. the distribution could be
done the next day. But ahl that next
day would find Billy hopeless slave,
and what was the use Of accomplish
ing the stint II one could not 60 fish
ingp
Thus the long June days had come
upon Billy and found him sinking
deeper under the gigantic Labor Prob
lem. Week afte week II would be
said of him. IN terms of the deepest re-
proach--mucl as they spoke Of Jefl
Davis, for war times were on the land
that Billy had not set his stint once
In the whole week, while Ernest
Crivets, in the opposition Office, set his
two columns of long primer, day after
day.
The great Fourth-cr-July ap-
preached. The day was already fixed
"a week from aturday-strange feel
ing Of awel We all have IL when we
approach our idols Flaming posters
filed every dead-wall. Had not the
foreman gained in every LUdy's esteem
by working a three-shect bill in two
colorsP Prodigious featl Gigantic in
tellectl "The day we cclcbratev'
Eagles - arrows - thunderbolts - full
dashl That picture of the eagle cost
seven dollars at the type foundry. The
foreman had convinced the editor that
the Office must have a horse and an
eagle II it were to keep its good run Of
job work.
Now, with foreman working green
ink one day and red ink the next, and
making three-sheet posters that actual
ly went together, and that announced
Governor Morton, Joshua r. Giddings,
the Swamp Angels, tho Lisbon Cadets,
the Ponghkeepsie Silver Brass Band,
the CREASED pole, the smooth pig and
the race in meal-bagS, how could the
cub in the office do any thing but fall
into contemplation Of the grandeur OF
that day which had brought forth the
Declaration of Independence and made
tyranny tremble3
Having fallen into contemplation,
how could he get up his stintP
And so. after week of unutterable
gloom, going from bad to worse, the
case Of Billy came up at the family
table the night before the Fourth
''He hasn't set his stint single day
this week." said the good wife.
"Well, he'll have to set it to-mor-
row-that's all" said the editor.
This decision was handed down from
the Supreme bench. Habeas corpus,
supersedeas. quo warranto, ay, the
Declaration OF Independence itself
would not avail the offender. He must
work, when no other human being in
that whole village would be at toll.
Dreadful outcome Of scheme con-
ceived in the spirit of philanthropy
So thought Billy, or words to that
end.
And yet what can not bright youth
accomplish? 1t would be day at
three o'clock. The boy took a pillow
and lay down on the parlor lounge.
At daybreak he was up and away.
At half-past three he was at work.
with three punches Of fire-crackers in
his trousers pocket and full account
of the burning Of the cathedral at San
tiago de Chilli, the previous Christmas,
on his case for copy.
When the first cannon went OF he
| pied but half line. 1t was the only
break he made. A small boy loves ia
chew thistlebloom and spit tobacco
juice, like men. He had no time fol
any such adult tricks now.
At half-past six he came down the
stretch in front of time; he ran all the
way TO the lake; at seven clock the
boys padded ashore and took him into
the boat. At quarter to eight he had
caught a formidable snappiRg-turtle,
and was trying TO borrow Limerick
hook before cutting his line and let
ting the Kissing and horrible ogre scot
free.
At eight o'clock. having lost his
hook, he set up the cry Of breakfast,
which at once stampcded the fishing
party. A hurried swim followed, and
at nine o'clock there was famine in
that editors household. Why should
a good wife be so astOnished when her
small boys eat we'll? Wonders never
cease simply because people keep
wondering at the same thing over and
over again.
At ten o'clock the procession forms.
The small boys are frantic with excite
ment and joy. Possibly the grown
people, unconsciously, are going
through the trouble ard worry of it all
for the benefit of the young ones.
With them il is timely celebration.
The fire-crackers begin to settle into a
steady fusillade-a sound as Of musket-
ry in general action. In the midst OF
the orgy there is panic. The bar
bauc Dutchy Fobes has thought II
would add to the fun TO touch Off the
three punches Of fire-crackers IN Billy
Hill 5 pants-pocket.
There lies the poor little fellow, fat
on his back in the dust, strong men
pulling at his clothes. but unable to
help him. A tempest OF explosions. n
senseless, small sufferer. an unexpected
procession 10 the editors house and an
afternoon of horror, with surgeons eX-
amining the wounds sud picking
powder and paper out Of the flesh!
Is he not white, this wee celebrant
who got so few hours sleep last night,
who set type on tip-toe for three NOR
tai hours. who ran a mile to Bixler
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